"He left this noon, sir." "Did he say anything?" The butler did not know whether to lie or not, but seeing no personal advantage in either course, he hedged. "Very little, sir." That little, the old man weighed. A little is often enough. It may be too much. "He spoke about a girl, eh?" "He said a lady was stopping there. Yes, sir." "What else?" The butler shuffled. "He said she was very pretty, sir." "Go on, Canlon." "Well, sir, it seems there was a joke about it. The young lady thought she was married." "How was that?" "I'm not supposed to know, sir. But from what was let on, Benny was rigged out as a dominie and it made 'em laugh." The old man ran his head out like a turtle. "Damnation, what has that to do with it?" "Why, sir, he pretended to marry her." "Benny did?" "Yes, sir." "He pretended that she was his wife." "No, sir, he pretended to marry her to Mr. Monty." "Good God!" the old man muttered and sank back. The blackness was blacker than any black he had entered. In days gone by, he had agreeably shocked New York with the splendid uproar of his orgies. He had left undone those things which he ought to have done and done those things which he should have avoided. He had been whatever you like--or dislike--but never had he been dishonest. Little that would avail him now. If this turpitude were published, it would be said that he had fathered it. At the prospect, he felt the incubus returning. In a moment it would have him and, spillingly, he drank the green drug. The agony receded, but the nightmare confronted him. He grappled with it. "The coat I had on at dinner. There is a card-case in the pocket. Give it to me." Probably it was all very useless. Probably no matter what he contrived, the police would ferret her out. There was just one chance though which, properly taken, might save the situation. The card-case, pale damask, lined with pale silk, the man brought him. He put it on the table. "Canlon!" "Yes, sir." "Benny said nothing." "Very good, sir." "I have a few hundred for you here, between eight and nine, I think." "Thank you, sir." "To-morrow there will be more." "I am sure I am very grateful, sir." "Don't interrupt me. Recently my son returned from Cuba. Occasionally he went visiting. Where he went, he did not tell you. That is all you know. You know nothing else. You heard nothing. Nobody here heard anything. Nobody, in this house, knows anything at all. You understand?" "Yes, sir." "Then see to it. The police will come. You must be at the door. You know now what to say. They will want a word with me. I am too prostrated to see anybody." "Thank you, sir." "Telephone to the Place. Get Benny. Repeat my orders. Say I will do as well by him as I shall by you." "Thank you, sir." "Take the money. You may have the case also." "I thank you, sir." "Tell Peters to fetch me some brandy. The 1810. That will do."